"Get Back!" Ray yelled, pushing Alex behind him as the two of them cowered behind a stray piece of debris.
Gunshots rang out and Alex whipped her head around to face the source of the sound.
Ray's body pressed against hers, their hiding space growing smaller as arrowheads pierced through the metal dangerously close to their faces.
"That can't be Oliver," Ray whispered beside her, their shoulders rubbing against each other. Alex let out a mirthless chuckle, "Sure shoots arrows like him," she quipped, ducking out from behind the debris and lifting her shield up, deflecting the blows with the enhanced defense.
"Come on!" She yelled, gesturing toward the Waverider.
Sara was the first to follow, ushering the others while Alex's lasso flashed back and forth, deflecting bullets and arrows alike as she shuffled backward before disappearing behind the closing door, ensuring her safety.
"That was badass," Sara breathed, offering her hand up for a high five. Alex slapped her palm against the assassin's while the rest of the group filed onto the bridge.
The two of them walked in just as Ray was grilling Rip about the changes to Star City.
" You've all seen how the timeline is malleable... in flux, until it is set," Rip explained, gesticulating to emphasize his point, "Well, this future is not set."
Alex rolled her eyes. She was getting real tired of Rip's vague warnings.
"Remember when I told you it was dangerous for any of you to know too much about your own futures? Well, the events that you dread could very well come to be due to your actions to prevent them."
Alex pressed forward, "So you're telling us that we can't try and save Star City because we might cause this future indirectly?"
Rip Nodded, "Believe me when I tell you that the best thing for yourselves and for this mission is to make the repairs to the Waverider here in 2046 then head back to your own time and make sure that none of this ever comes to be."
Alex tried to push the shot of irritation stirring in her stomach as Kendra and Ray conversed over the channel.
"Is there anything you can't manage to put a positive spin on?" Kendra's soft voice rang in her ear.
Ray let out a soft sigh before quipping, "The DMV"
Alex had to push the smile from her face as she went back to her task, ignoring the outburst coming from Stein and Jax as she carefully began to piece the broken bits of Rip's extrapolator back together.
"They're bothering you too huh?" Jax's voice pulled her vision forward, where she met the annoyed expression in his dark eyes. Alex nodded, blowing a soft raspberry as she continued to examine the broken pieces before her.
"Although, I'm guessing my reasons are different than yours," She quipped, clearly able to see the attraction the kid harbored for Kendra. She couldn't blame him.
Jax sighed before playing with his hands, the twenty-year-old twiddling with a small part of the ship as the two sat in silence.
"It's just-" Jax began, breaking the quiet, "I thought it would be easier, y'know after hearing about her time with Cisco and everything."
Alex's mouth twisted to the side, "Look, I don't know too much about Kendra," She began, trying to figure out a way to comfort the kid in front of her, "But from what I gather, she was interested in Cisco back when she was a barista. Before all of...this" She gestured to the time ship surrounding them, "I don't think she's looking for something that reminds her of what her life used to be"
Jax nodded, slipping the device into his coat pocket as a defeated look crossed his face. He was halfway out of her room when she called after him.
"Hey!" Alex's voice brought his gaze back to her, "For the record, you're about as far from Carter as one could get, so when she's ready, I'm sure she'll go straight for you."
Jax sent her a soft smile, the light chuckle leaving his lips, "Thanks Alex," He paused for second before drawing his attention to the broken extrapolator in her hand, "You know, we're in a future version of Star City," He pointed out, "Who says Smoak Technologies doesn't have one of those on hand?"
The door hissed shut as Jax's figure faded from her sight. She bit her lip in concentration as she considered his words.
He was right.
Wasting no time, she pulled the armor on and grasped her sword and shield. She fingered the small pieces of the device before shoving them into her jacket.
The door hissed open and she whipped around, "Hey Alex, do you think you could help me with-"
Ray froze at the sight before him. His eyes took in the armor she was wearing, the sword gripped in her hand and the determined look in her face. "What are you doing?"
"What does it look like?" her tone was clipped, not wanting to talk about her plans as she pushed forward, "I'm going to help Sara and Rip find Oliver"
Her movement was halted by Ray's hand wrapping around her bicep, his worried look the only reason she didn't pin him against the wall. Furrowing his brows, he set the tablet he had been carrying on the side table before reaching into her pocket with his other hand, unfurling her fist to reveal the extrapolator.
His expression flashed from worry to disappointment as he caught sight of the device, "You can't be serious."
"I am" She responded, ripping her arm out of his grip. Ray retaliated by blocking the door. She ground her teeth together, "Look, I like you, Ray, so please don't make me dislocate your arm in an attempt to do this,"
"This isn't the way to get home Alex," Ray tried to appeal to her, "This is putting yourself in a vulnerable position that might get you killed."
Alex bit her lip, shaking her head at Ray's words, "I'm willing to take that chance if it means I get my family back."
"I know how it feels-"
"No, you don't Ray!" She burst, unable to control the anger that was bubbling up inside her, "You have no idea what it's like! You can go back to Star City whenever you want. Meanwhile, I'm stuck here with no way to contact my Mom, My best friend and the last thing I need is you telling me that what I'm doing is wrong!"
Ray's eyes widened into the puppy-like appearance she had gotten used to, "You're wrong." He announced, "I have nothing to go back to. The entire world thinks I'm dead and the girl I loved-" He let out a mirthless chuckle, "That doesn't matter, but what does matter is the fact that you are needed on this team and we can't stop Savage if you get killed."
Alex let out a sigh, crossing her arms as she brushed the appearance of tears from the corner of her eye before facing the inventor again, "I have to do this, I'm sorry."
He didn't try and stop her this time, only hunched his shoulders and stared at the ground as she pressed forward, stopping in the middle of the hallway as a dark-clad figure entered her vision. She whipped her lasso around, and the figure caught it in his hands, wrapping the rope around his palm as he moved closer.
"Alex wait-" Ray's sentence was cut off as he caught sight of the scene before him.
"Stay Back!" Alex ordered, refusing to release her grip on the lasso, "Who the hell are you?"
The figure threw back his hood, revealing the blonde curls that clung to his scalp and framed his face.
His cerulean gaze met theirs and he holstered his gun, "My name is Robert Queen, I'm Oliver's son and I need your help."
"That's not possible," Ray muttered, moving to Alex's side, "Oliver never had any kids."
Robert tilted his head, indicating that his existence clearly disproved his claim.
"He's telling the truth" Alex announced, nodding to the glowing lasso around the kid's hand. She released the tension in her arms, moving closer to the kid. Rob let go of the lasso before straightening up, his black leather tunic clinging to him as he turned to face the two heroes.
"I need you to help me save Connor" He announced, something lingering in his voice as he said his friend's name, "I think Grant's gonna kill him."
Alex shared a look with Ray before the inventor nodded down the hallway, "This way, I think we may have something we can use to catch him off guard."
Rob nodded, following the two down the hallway toward Ray's makeshift lab.
"You know my dad used to tell stories about the two of you" He spoke out of nowhere, "well, he never really met you, but Ray would talk about you all the time,"
Alex chuckled at his bluntness, "I doubt that, I don't really know Ray that well." She admitted, trying to gauge the reaction of the man walking ahead of her. Rob, on the other hand, seemed to look between the two of them before a look of realization crossed his face.
"That makes sense," Rob announced, "I mean to me you guys have known each other for years."
He almost seemed to backpedal on his previous statement, trying to keep his embarrassment in check. She heard a chuckle come from Ray as he moved around the lab.
"Well you are certainly Felicity's kid," He spoke wistfully.
Rob blinked blankly.
"Who?"
"Felicity Smoak," Ray announced, "Y'know the woman your dad has been in love with for a while?"
Rob shook his head, "The only Felicity Smoak I know is the one who owns Smoak Tech, and she's been gone for years."
"Then who-"
Alex cut him off, "What Ray is trying to say is that he's trying to piece together who your parents are."
Rob nodded, "Yeah, I never knew my Mom and my dad never talked about her. Always said it was too hard for him."
Alex scoffed slightly, she'd been there before. It usually meant the person in question was dead. Not that he needed to know that.
"So" Rob began again, "Is there anything you can do to help Connor?"
There it was again. The way he said his name.
Alex recognized the way he said it.
The soft tone filled with worry.
Their relationship went far beyond friendship.
Ray sifted through a box of small devices, quickly piecing something together and handing it to the kid, "Here, these are some old prototypes I considered for the suit before I found the alloy" He explained, most of the words going over Alex's head as he held out several small discs.
"It's pretty simple, place them on the back of your hand and it released a powerful electromagnetic pulse, stunning everything in its path."
Rob stared in awe at the invention, slipping the disc underneath his gloves in a hidden pocket.
Rob went to go thank them but was greeted with the sensation of the ship shaking under their feet.
"What was that?" He asked. His question was answered by Stein and Jax barging into the room, a determined look on their faces.
"Sara's in trouble," Stein explained, "We have to go now."
Alex gripped her sword and turned toward Rob, "You're up kid."
He threw his hood over his head and followed them out, the Waverider releasing them into the ravaged city.
A resounding boom filled the area as Rob released the electromagnetic pulse, several of Grant's minions covering their ears in pain as the kid fought his way forward, heading back to back with Connor.
"Told you I'd save you," Alex heard him whisper before releasing another pulse.
She smirked and tore through the crowds, launching a kick into the stomach of one gang member before smacking another behind the head.
"How'd you convince Rip to stay?" Sara yelled, the two women facing similar opponents before throwing them both to the ground.
"My charm of course" Alex quipped, blocking a blow from another gang member before grabbing his arm and twisting, shoving her foot into his back.
Several shots of blue light flew past her and Mick's words flew past her.
"Cowards all!"
The fight was over.
Oliver turned toward his son, "That was impressive Rob, your mother would've been proud."
Alex stood on the fringe of the reunion between Oliver and Ray and Kendra. She knew he preferred his space.
She chose instead to watch as Rob caressed the cheek of Connor before bringing him in for a hug, a slight twitch on her lips.
"Thank you for your help Alex," Oliver's deep voice pulled her attention his way, meeting the weary look in his eye.
She uncrossed her arms, holding her hand out, "Anytime Mr. Queen."
He disregarded the handshake and pulled her into his arms, "It's good to finally meet you."
The embrace caught her by surprise, but she returned it reluctantly. When they pulled away Oliver seemed to look at her with a soft glint in his gaze.
"Ray's lucky to have you." That was the last thing he said before patting her on the shoulder and walking over to talk with Sara.
Alex tried to push the fluttering in her stomach down at the sound of Oliver's words. Something must have happened in their future to bring them closer together.
Why else would Oliver decide to hug her upon moments of meeting her?
"Miss Prince?' Rob's timid voice broke through her thoughts, his hand intertwined with Connor's a soft look shared between the two men, "I wanted to thank you for helping me save Connor"
She felt her lips twitch upward, "It was nothing, just part of our jobs."
"In any case," Rob continued, "I wanted to give you a gift"
He reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out a small disc alight with blue out of the dark leather. She swore she felt her heart stop.
"I uh, I swiped it before Connor went missing, Sara mentioned something about a broken extrapolator and I knew Aunt Felicity had one so-"
She brought the kid into her arms, squeezing him tightly as her voice broke, "Thank you"
Alex pulled away, pressure building behind her eyes, "Take care of each other okay?"
The two men nodded before Alex turned her back on the couple, slowly fingering the small disc before stuffing it into her jacket pocket.
She could barely contain her excitement as she bounced back to her room, gingerly placing the extrapolator in a jar near her bedstand.
She was determined to keep this one safe.
The door hissed open behind her and she quickly hid the jar behind a pile of books, turning around to see Ray standing there with a bottle of vodka in his hands.
"Hey," He began, "Look, I know I was a bit of a jerk earlier with the whole extrapolator thing"
Alex bit her lip, trying to calm her rising heartbeat.
"But" Ray continued, shutting the door behind him, "I uh wanted to make it up to you. Y'know considering you're cut off from your friends and family and all."
She felt her stomach leap as he moved closer, joining her on the bed and crossing his legs.
"I thought, just because you're not from this world it doesn't mean we can't be friends."
A soft smile graced her lips as she turned to face the lanky man in front of her.
"Okay, what did you have in mind?"
His face broke out into a wide smile as he handed the bottle over to her.